Seam-stay for boots and shoes



(No Model.) V`

T. E. WOODLEY.

SEAM STAY FOR BOOTS AND SHOES.

No. 341,864. Patented May 11, 1886.

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rlHOMAS E. VOODLEY, OF LYNN, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN G. MCOARTER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SEANMSTAY FOR BOOTS AND SHOES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.341,864,dated IVIay 1l, 1886.

Application filed .Tune 1885. Serial No. 169,793. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS E. WooDLnv, ol'l Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Seam-Stays for Uppers, oi' which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to strengthening and supporting inside stays for the front and back seams on button or lace boot uppers; andit consists in a stay which is so formed at the side which is placed against the upper as to present a central groove or recess for the ridge formed by the edges of the united parts, and higher portions at each side of said groove, through which the stitches pass which secure the stay to the upper, the object being, first, to prevent said stitches from sinking` into the leather; secondly,to guide the stay while it is being stitched to the upper, and, thirdly, to prevent the formation of a ridge on the outer surfaces ofthe upper along the seam, asl will now proceed to describe.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure l represents a sectional view of two parts of an upper as iirst united by a seam.4 Fig. 2 represents a similar view showing the seam rubbed down. Fig. 3 represents the seam with my improved stay applied thereto. Figs. 4 and 5 represent sectional views of different forms ot' the improved stay. Fig. 6 represents the ordinary sea-m as heretofore usually made.

The same letters of reference indicate the saine parts in all the ligures.

In the drawings, a a represent two parts of a boot-upper-as, for example, the two quarters, or the inside quarter and the buttonliiy. In uniting said parts they are connected by stitches near their edges, the outer sides ofthe parts being placed together, stitched through at s, and then opened out, leaving the edges projecting inwardly, as shown in Fig. 1. These edges are then rubbed down, as shown in Fig. 2. An inside stay, t, is then placed against the inner surfaces of the parts e a, so

as to cover the seam, and is stitched to said parts,at opposite sides of the seam,by rows of stitches,t t, which arelocated close to the seam. Heretofore a dat stay has generally been used,and as the inwardly-turned and rubbeddown edges of the pieces give an increased. thickness to the upper along the seam, the stitches tt, drawing the parts ct aand stay together, cause ridges r r to appear on the outer surface of the upper along the seam, as shown in Fig. 6. These ridges soon become worn and rusty when the boot is subjected to use, so that the boot soon acquires a shabby appearance. Moreover, the increased thickness between the stitches t t causes said stitches to sink into the leather more deeply than is desirable, and in some cases causes the stitches to cut through the leather.

In carrying out my invention I obviate these objections by providing the side of the stay that is placed next to the parts a a with a central groove or recess, 2, and raised portions 3 3 at either side of said groove. The groove is of sufficient width to receive the inwardlyturned edges of the parts 7a a, and the raised parts 3 3 fit closely against the inner surfaces of the upper up to said edges, so that the stitches t t pass through said raised parts,and do not, therefore, draw the upper inwardly at each side of the seam. The formation of the ridges r r is thus avoided, and the upper is made quite smooth along the seam` as shown in Fig. 3. Moreover, the stitches are prevented from sinking into the leather too far. The groove 2 enables the inwardly -tnrned edges of the parts a a to guide the stay while it is being stitched to the upper, as will be readily seen.

The stay may be gi ven the described iorm by securing parallel strips of felt or other suitable material to its inner side, as shown in Fig. et, or by forming welts and placing cords therein, as shown in Fig. 5.

l claimM v l. The combination, with the parts a a of a boot or shoe upper, said parts having inturned edges at the seam, of separate parallel strips at each side of said seam on the inside of the shoe, and a strip extending over all, and having both' its edges exposed, snbstantially as described.

2. An inside stay for boots and shoes, consisting of a iieXible strip of sufficient width to cover the seam and extend a little distance at subscribing witnesses, this 15th day of June, each side thereof, and two narrow separate 1885.

strips attached to one face thereof, the narrow strips being parallel with each other and near THOMAS E' WOODLEY' 5 the edges of the main strip. Witnesses:

In testimony whereof Ihave signed my name A. SEAVER, to this specification, in the presence of two C. F. BROWN. 

